Is Homemade Coconut Cake better than Pepperidge Farms Coconut Cake?

Can a frozen coconut cake really compete with one made completely from scratch? Today we’re putting Homemade Coconut Cake head-to-head against Pepperidge Farm Coconut Cake to find out which one comes out on top! Each cake is scored in four categories: 🥥 Appearance 😋 Taste 🍰 Texture 💰 Cost Will the homemade recipe justify the extra time and effort, or will the freezer aisle pull off an upset? Watch until the end to see the final scores and the winner! If you enjoy dessert comparisons, baking, and honest taste tests, be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss the next Homemade vs. Store-Bought showdown. Ingredients For the Cake: ▢3 cups cake flour (360g) ▢2 teaspoons baking powder ▢½ teaspoon baking soda ▢1 teaspoon salt ▢2 cups granulated sugar (400g) ▢½ cup unsalted butter softened (113g) ▢½ cup vegetable oil (120mL) ▢4 large egg whites lightly beaten ▢2 teaspoons vanilla extract ▢½ teaspoon coconut extract ▢1 cup coconut milk (240ml) ▢1 cup sweetened shredded coconut (100g) For the Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting: ▢1 cup unsalted butter softened (227g) ▢8 ounces cream cheese room temperature (227g) ▢1 teaspoon vanilla extract ▢½ teaspoon coconut extract ▢¼ teaspoon salt ▢6 cups confectioners’ sugar (720g) ▢2½ cups sweetened shredded coconut (250g) Instructions For the Cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 3 (9-inch) round cake pans or spray with baking spray. Line the bottom of each pan with a circle of parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, combine sugar, butter, and vegetable oil. Beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until light and creamy. Add the egg whites, vanilla, and coconut extract and mix until combined, about 1 minute. With the mixer on low speed, add about one-third of the flour mixture. Mix until completely combined. Add ½ of the coconut milk and mix until combined. Repeat adding another one-third of the flour mixture, remaining coconut milk mixture, then all of the remaining flour mixture. Stop and scrape down the bowl at least once during mixing, then mix until completely combined. Fold in the shredded coconut. Divide the batter evenly among the cake pans and smooth out to the sides with a spatula (the batter will be thick). Bake for 30 to 32 minutes, rotating the pans after 20 minutes, or until the center of the cake springs back when gently pressed. Let the cakes cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Carefully invert, remove the parchment paper, and continue cooling on a wire rack. For the Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until creamy and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla extract, coconut extract, and salt. Beat until combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing on low speed between each addition. Once combined, scrape down the bowl, then mix on medium speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. For the Assembly: Place one cake layer on a cake stand. Spread about 1 cup of frosting evenly over the top. Top with another cake layer and repeat with more frosting. Top with the remaining cake layer. Spread the remaining frosting all over the outside of the cake. Press the coconut to the frosting all over the top and sides of the cake to cover completely. Chill for 30 minutes for easy slicing, or keep refrigerated for up to 3 days or until ready to serve. Notes I baked these layers with cake strips to create flat, even layers. You can follow my guide for how to bake flat cake layers using fabric strips, or you can make your own. If you bake without them, the layers will bake a bit faster. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, rotating the pans after 15 minutes. Don’t overmix the cake batter. This will cause the gluten to overdevelop, leading to tough cake layers. 👇 Which dessert should I compare next? Let me know in the comments! #CoconutCake #HomemadeVsStoreBought #PepperidgeFarm #DessertReview #CakeReview #Baking #TasteTest #FoodReview #Desserts #CurtisHood